Rosberg leads another dominant Mercedes display

Nico Rosberg (right) leads Lewis Hamilton into the first corner at the start of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos

James Beckett

Published:10:50Thursday 19 November 2015

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Nico Rosberg dominated last Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos to claim his fifth victory of the FIA F1 World Championship season.

Rosberg’s victory made sure that the he bagged the 2015 championship runners-up spot, allowing the Brackley-based Mercedes AMG Petronas team to wrap up a coveted one-two in the Drivers’ Standings for a second year in a row.

Taking the lead at the start, Rosberg led his team-mate Lewis Hamilton through the first series of corners and after an initial challenge from Hamilton quickly disappeared, Rosberg was able to control the pace of the race and drive comfortably to the chequered flag to win back-to-back Grands Prix.

The German said afterwards: “I felt I had good pace in the car all weekend. The team gave me a great car for the weekend. Pace was good in qualifying, and from the start of the race I was in a position to control everything. Lewis was never that close to me and I had plenty of time to not make any mistakes.

“I am really pleased to have won my fifth race of the season. I would like to thank the whole Mercedes AMG Petronas team for giving me a great car, and I would like to thank them further in the final race of the season next week by winning that as well!”

After finishing second, Hamilton, the 2015 world champion, said: “I found it difficult in this race. I wasn’t really able to do much and overtaking opportunities here in Brazil are not easy.

“I need to go away and learn more about how my car is working at the moment and come back stronger for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina track.”

Sebastian Vettel finished the race in third position for Ferrari. He said: “I wasn’t able to catch either Mercedes car this weekend. Lewis has driven well all year, and Nico (Rosberg) has now scored enough points to earn the runners-up position in the championship.

“I have won three races this year and it’d be nice to win one more before the season ends!”

The 2015 Le Mans 24-Hour Race winner said: “I like racing here in Brazil. It is a track I like and it is also one of the sport’s traditional tracks.

“The circuit has many elevation changes which make it enjoyable, and also difficult for the driver. To finish sixth is good for me and the team and Checo (Sergio Perez) and I are now ninth and tenth overall.”

Perez failed to score points, saying: “I had some close racing throughout the race – but I was not able to finish in the top ten. It is a shame and I now have to look for the final race.”

Max Verstappen drove well to score points for the Bicester-based Toro Rosso team. The young Dutch racer, in his debut season of F1 racing, enjoyed many battles during the race, saying at the end: “I had a good time on-track today. The team did a good job and I was happy with my performance.”

Carlos Sainz, at the wheel of the second Toro Rosso, was a non-finisher. Starting the race from the pit lane, following technical problems on the way to the starting grid, Sainz’s car slowed on the opening lap which ended his race before it had hardly started.